Issues

Stage Details

Legislation -
Bill Failed
(House)
(246-168) -
May 31, 2012(Key vote)

Vote Result

Yea Votes

Nay Votes

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits abortions based on the race or gender of the fetus.

Highlights:

Prohibits abortions sought due to the sex, gender, color, or race of the fetus, or the race of a parent of the fetus (Sec. 3).

Specifies that the following acts are not abortions and are exempt from the provisions of this bill (Sec. 3):

The termination of a pregnancy in order to save the life or preserve the health of the fetus;

An operation to remove a dead fetus from a spontaneous abortion; or

The removal of an ectopic pregnancy.

Specifies that any of the following individuals who knowingly terminate a pregnancy on the basis of race or gender have committed an offense punishable by a fine, 5 years in prison, or both (Sec. 3):

Any individual who performs a sex-selection or race-selection abortion;

Any individual who solicits or accepts funds to perform a sex-selection or race-selection abortion;

Any individual who coerces a pregnant woman into having a sex-selection or race selection abortion using force or the threat of force; and

Any individual who transports a pregnant woman into the United States or across a state line for the purpose of obtaining a sex-selection or race-selection abortion.

Requires the following health professionals to report known or suspected sex-selection or race-selection abortions to law enforcement (Sec. 3):

Physicians;

Physicians' assistants;

Nurses;

Counselors; and

Any other medical or mental health professional.

Specifies that a health professional who fails to report a known or suspected sex-selection or race-selection abortion commits an offense punishable by a fine, 1 year in prison, or both (Sec. 3).

Authorizes the woman upon whom the sex-selection or race-selection abortion is performed, the father of the fetus, or the maternal grandparents of the fetus to bring civil action against the health professional that preformed the sex-selection or race-selection abortion (Sec. 3).

Exempts the woman upon whom a sex-selection or race-selection abortion is performed from prosecution or civil liability (Sec. 3).

Note:

NOTE: THIS VOTE WAS TAKEN UNDER A SUSPENSION OF THE RULES TO CUT OFF DEBATE EARLY AND VOTE TO PASS THE BILL, THEREBY REQUIRING A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY FOR PASSAGE.